HCPL branches will close on Thursday, April 2 at 5 PM and will be closed April 3 through April 5. We will reopen on Monday, April 6 for regular hours.Lone Star College - Cy-Fair Library will be open Thursday April 2 until 10 PM.

Linda Stevens's blog

Everyone is invited to "Dig Up a Good Book" this summer with HCPL summer reading programs for the entire family. The fun begins Friday, June 3rd and runs through Friday, August 5th Saturday, August 6th, but you can set up your account starting May 31st if you would like a few extra days before you begin logging the books you read. Registration and reading logs are online, but we encourage you to check out the events calendar and visit your local branch to take part in the great free family entertainment happening all summer long.

Last weekend I was scarfing down the books in Maya Banks' KGI series as if they were bonbons and I paused for a moment to wonder about the source of their appeal. I started reading the first book because I was in the mood for a military/adventure type of romance, but by the time I finished that one and drove to the nearest bookstore to buy the next two, I was caught up in the story of the family. It made me think of how many series I've made my way through because I really liked the characters in a family, I wanted to find out what happened in all of their imaginary lives, and I just wanted to spend more time with them.

Save the date! The beautiful new Evelyn Meador Branch Library will open on Tuesday, June 28th at 10:00 AM. Stop by and take a tour of the new facility or check out some of the new library materials. The Friends of the Evelyn Meador Library will sponsor entertainment and activities for all ages following the opening ceremony hosted by Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jack Morman. For more information, please call 713-749-9000.

When my best friend and I were in high school, we decided we were going to write a book together. One week later, we weren't speaking to each other. We couldn't agree on what the characters would be named, what they would look like, what they were going to do, or what they were saying to each other. We won't even get into the delusion that we could actually write. Needless to say, I have a great respect for the special skills of authors who can collaborate to tell a single story. I mean ones who really collaborate, not become a brand with a second author. I am baffled by how they can make it work as a truly equal effort, but some very successful teams of friends, husbands and wives, even mothers and sons have proven it can be done.

The West University Branch Library will have a reduction in hours starting April 6, 2011. Renewals, requests and other online services are still available 24/7 at www.hcpl.net. The new West University Branch Library schedule will be: Monday 10-8, Tuesday 10-6, Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 1-6, Friday 1-6, and Saturday 10-5. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call 713-749-9000.

The Octavia Fields Branch Library will have a reduction in hours starting April 6, 2011. Renewals, requests and other online services are still available 24/7 at www.hcpl.net. The new Octavia Fields Branch Library schedule will be: Monday 1-7, Tuesday 10-9, Wednesday 10-7, Thursday 10-9, Friday Closed, and Saturday 10-5. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call 713-749-9000.

The Northwest Branch Library will have a reduction in hours starting April 6, 2011. Renewals, requests and other online services are still available 24/7 at www.hcpl.net. The new Northwest Branch Library schedule will be: Monday 1-8, Tuesday 10-6, Wednesday 12-8, Thursday 10-6, Friday Closed, and Saturday 10-5. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call 713-749-9000.

The Barbara Bush Branch Library will have a reduction in hours starting April 6, 2011. Renewals, requests and other online services are still available 24/7 at www.hcpl.net. The new Barbara Bush Branch Library schedule will be: Monday 1-9, Tuesday 10-9, Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 10-9, Friday 10-6, and Saturday 10-5. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call 713-749-9000.

The Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library will have a reduction in hours starting April 6, 2011. Renewals, requests and other online services are still available 24/7 at www.hcpl.net. The new Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library schedule will be: Monday 1-8, Tuesday 10-6, Wednesday 12-8, Thursday 10-6, Friday 1-6, and Saturday 10-5. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call 713-749-9000.

The Atascocita Branch Library will have a reduction in hours starting April 6, 2011. Renewals, requests and other online services are still available 24/7 at www.hcpl.net. The new Atascocita Branch Library schedule will be: Monday 11-8, Tuesday 1-9, Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 10-8, Friday 1-6, and Saturday 10-5. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call 713-749-9000.

Information for Persons with Disabilities: Harris County Public Library will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who are interested in attending library programs. To make a request for yourself or someone you know, please notify the Branch Librarian two working days in advance of the program.